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High School Sweethearts FINALLY Graduating to Husband & Wife…….

Heyyyyy! My name is Monique and my amazing groom to be is Johnny. We are FINALLY, once you read our love story you’ll understand why so much emphasis is put on finally, getting married on April 22, 2018 in Las Vegas. No this isn’t a Little Chapel, Drive-Thru Window or Elvis Wedding, I’m bringing all this fabulousness from Chicago to Vegas for an elaborate intimate wedding. I mean who said all destination weddings have to happen on the beach anyway, is my motto!

Anyway, back to the FINALLY of it all. Johnny and I met in 2003, yes 14 years ago, in our high school gym class. We had to sit on the bleachers on number and just so happen his number was directly in front of mine so I would just slap him in the back of the head or knee him throughout class; you know all the little cute stuff kids do when they like each other. It was all fun and games until one day in gym class Johnny didn’t show up, I’m like wait, what, where is my boo? Luckily his older sister was in our class and told me that he had broken his foot and would be out of class for a while! I’m like naw sis that’s not gonna work, I’m gonna miss him! So, I did what any other girl would’ve, or at least should do, I slipped her my number like tell your brother to call me. Of course, y’all know he called too right! So just a word of advice ladies, if you want that man go get him; I don’t care if it’s through his sister, brother, cousin or friend LOL! Now when he got back to school we started hanging out more and more after school and on weekends. Just simply as friends, because we both were in relationships, but of course we knew we wanted each other. So ummmm yeah, those relationships didn’t last long and on December 28, 2004 we finally decided that it was time to become official! Keep in mind it was that one simple move from the persistent bully in gym class, me, that lead us to this long road of our engagement.

 Speaking of the long road to engagement, the proposal was exactly everything that I didn’t want and at that moment I hated it all! Yes, you read that right I HATED IT ALL!!! Now I’m one of those people that live by the meme “if you propose at my wedding, I’ll renew my vows at your wedding, go into labor at your baby shower and die at your funeral”!! I know you’ve saw exactly what I’m talking about, if not of course its posted on my page! So what does he do, propose at his mother’s bridal shower on April 23, 2016, not an actual wedding but still you get my point. While I was out on a liquor run, or so I thought, this man decides to sneak in with our oldest son and his friends in tow to propose. I get in from the store and begin entertaining the guest as a good bridesmaid should and here he walks in. Of course I’m cursing him out, as always, telling him to get out and stop being a party crasher when he gets down on one knee and asked me to be his wife FINALLY!!! I could literally kill this man I’m standing there in an ugly “Real Bridesmaids of ZsaZsa’s Wedding” shirt, white jeans, Converse, hair sweaty pulled back into a raggedy ponytail but most importantly manicure was a HOT MESS!! I mean I was tore up and all these cameras flashing in my face for pictures and videos of this special moment. Now y’all know after waiting all this time I FINALLY said “YESSSSSSSSSS” but of course I cursed him out something serious later on. In his defense, my sister who is my best friend and maid of honor and our oldest son was there so he did get some cool points for that. But still, I was mad because I felt like he took the moment from his mother as this day was about her until I found it was her idea. Apparently (in my Johnny voice), “I’m nosey and this was the only time that I honestly wouldn’t expect it because he knew how I felt about doing it on someone else’s day”! Well lets’ just say he got me good, I think the best part was his grandmother getting caught on camera saying, “they making all this noise when you walked in, I thought you were the stripper” LOL!!!!  Speaking of good, that ring was even better, THAT MAN DID THAT BABY! I mean, we’ve ring shopped before but I always look at smaller and simple rings but I guess that wasn’t good enough for him. Actually, the day he brought the ring we ring shopped together then I made my way to one store to finish some Christmas shopping and he went to another or so I thought. Guess he doubled back to the jewelry store and purchased my ring. Guess I’m not as nosey as he thought because I had no freaking idea he did it!!

On April 23, 2016, he asked be to be his wife and on April 22, 2018 I will become just that HIS WIFE! I think I enjoyed engagement land for 2 months then bride mode kicked in and the serious wedding brain took over. By August we had a date (April 21, 2018; notice the difference from the date above), location, and wedding party in mind along with engagement pictures scheduled for our engagement party in October. In September, we took pictures at Navy Pier, our first date location, with the skyline as the backdrop and our potential wedding date in most shots! I mean it was PERFECT!! In October, our Vegas themed engagement party took place with that date displayed on everything once again. Only problem was I didn’t visit Las Vegas until January 2017, when vendors started booking for 2018, and the venue I really wanted had that date booked already, SMH! Once again you read it right, our date was gone and we had pictures, buttons and everything else you can name made LOL! I can laugh now but I seriously cried at the time. I mean no other venue compared to this place for quality and cost so guess what, we changed the date to April 22, 2018. Most would say “it’s only a day” but ummmm yeah what about our engagement pictures and personalized wedding memorabilia? Yep, all pretty pointless, thank God I’m a DIY Queen and the stuff didn’t cost much to replace. But another word of advice, DON’T and I mean DON’T start moving too fast! Just like you secured that ring, secure that date before displaying it on anything.

 Now were 5 ½ months out and we’ve secured almost everything for this EPIC Las Vegas wedding! And when I say everything I mean everything: date, venue, florist, photographer, DJ/Emcee, stationary, caterer and even my dress. Now that dress is something else, be sure to read about my adventures of Saying Yes to The Dress SOLO!! Lol, I know it’s a lot of shockers in this post but yes, I went to 5 bridal salons alone and FINALLY said yes by myself at my last stop! Anyway, that’s all for now but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share more details of dragging 75 of my closet family and friends from Chicago to Las Vegas where the McAlister’s will FINALLY say “I DO”!!!

SO, COME THRU IT’S LIT (yes that is on our wedding invitation)!!

-Monique  

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Say Yes to The Dress: The Solo Edition

Now I know we’ve all seen Say Yes to the Dress and said, “when I get married I’m not doing this or that”! Well yep I have and here’s the story of my journey to finally saying YES TO THE DRESS!!

So, here’s a little confession even before I was engaged I would frequently binge watch wedding shows like Say Yes to The Dress, Four Weddings and Alter’d; not to mention my favorite movie is The Wedding Planner! But anyway, when I’d be watching Say Yes to The Dress I would just hate when brides brought these big ass entourages into the salon and the appointment became about them instead of the bride and what she wanted. She would walk out the dressing room with the biggest smile on her face but return almost in tears because they didn’t like something she loved. Wait, WHAT? Who’s wedding is this? Who’s paying for this dress? Who’s wearing this dress? I mean I get it, you don’t want the bride to be looking a fool but if she likes it then you better love it end of fucking story!

Episodes like these led me to the conclusion that I would be dress shopping SOLO!!! In January, I decided that it was time get off the couch and start looking for a dress of my own and nope I would not be bringing an entourage of any sorts, just me, myself and I! I wanted a dress that was all mine, no outside opinions just mine! Now I must admit, I’d get funny looks when the consultants in the bridal salon would ask, “are we waiting for anyone” and I’d reply “nope it’s just me”. I had my budget in mind, wedding planning binder in hand and debit card in wallet and was determined to find the perfect wedding dress.

Fast forward to May, I have been to 4 salons and found absolutely nothing I liked but just wanted to see what Eva’s International Bridal had for their sample sale before I gave it a break. This was definitely an on the whim impromptu salon visit, I had money but no binder and my budget was out the window because I was just “looking”. Well as you suspecting nothing in the sample sale caught my eye, no way was I gonna buy a dress that has been tried on by 1,000 brides before me (I mean to each its own but yeah naw that wasn’t for me). But the consultant Krystina had to try on a few gowns that weren’t on sale since I was there anyway, which I agreed to. Once again a bunch of nopes, a maybe and then finally I tried on MY MAGGIE LAST!!! This dress was everything I wanted: the fit, the style, the detail, the EVERY FUCKING THING!! I mean I cried and all. I didn’t want to take the damn thing off! The thoughts of a second dress (I originally wanted 2 dresses) went out the window and I knew she was the one!! So, on that day I said YES TO MY MAGGIE SOTTERO GOWN while dress shopping SOLO! Although I didn’t have my binder or my budget thank God I had my debit card lol!!

 I wrote this post to reassure the brides that are scared to say NO to that entourage that wants to come along dress shopping because “it’s the norm”! Girl this your damn wedding, your damn dress and your damn debit card so GO PICK THAT DRESS BY YOUR DAMN SELF and get exactly what you like!

XOXO

Mo

 P.S Be sure to check back to see MY MAGGIE April 2018!!

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Weddiquette: Top 5, Pet Peeves (Yes, there is such a thing as wedding etiquette!)

 Weddings and wedding planning should be fun but with any major event in life stress is to be expected but unnecessary stress is something I don’t have time for! Nope not today, tomorrow or ever. I won’t be a stressed and pressed bride so please read these simple Weddiquette pet peeves before addressing me about my wedding! 

Don’t you just hate people that ask to come to your wedding? Well at least I do! When we first got engaged, I mean before we could even pick a date, I had people asking me can they come to our wedding! And that my friends is the #1 pet peeve on the Weddiquette list. Weddings aren’t backyard bbq’s therefore you cannot ask to be invited. Allow people to extend the invite to the people that have shared all the special moments leading up to this without extending yourself to the guest list. I mean damn it’s just flat out tacky.

Pet peeve #2, assuming you’re invited because you share a mutual friend or two with couple. Okay, cause so and so invited you to their wedding doesn’t mean you’re invited to mine. I mean damn after 3 unanswered text messages about dates and locations along with 27 skipped comments on social media I would’ve had thought you caught on, guess not! SMFH!

 Pet peeve #3, RSVP!!! I cannot say this enough RSVP, RSVP, RSVP! Like damn people spend hundreds of dollars on invites for you to read them actually do what the paper says. Once again, it’s not a backyard bbq and you cannot just show up when somebody is paying at least $50 per plate. I mean damn the least you can do is say you’re coming. There are so many ways to RSVP: you can do it online through the couple’s wedding website, through email, leave a voice mail or hell send a smoke signal but don’t just show up cause a bride like me will politely turn you around. Sorry not sorry!

Pet peeve #4, trying to bring your whole damn family. I get it if you’re married or in a long-term relationship its only appropriate that you receive a plus 1 but damn you want a plus 9 (yes, this happened in real life)! Wait what, because I want you to share in my special day I have to literally invite everybody in your damn house? Awwww hell naw once again that’s where that $50 per plate come in again and I have to tell you to take this invitation for two or allow me to give it to one of them people in my inbox asking me to come!

Finally, and most importantly, hell probably one of the most irritating things you could ever do! Pet peeve #5, don’t compare my damn wedding to nobody else. All that well so and so had this at their wedding, or they did this and gave that is super annoying. Guess what, my wedding consisted of what I like not what the next person did or what you like! At the end of the day you’re guest and haven’t paid for nothing in this room therefore your opinion doesn’t even matter! Now don’t get me wrong I want my guest to have a great time, no doubt they will cause my shit will be lit, but don’t come as a spectator trying to be nosey knit picking.

At the end of the day I just want my wedding to be intimate but lit! Those invited will be there because we invited them, not because they asked or assumed they were coming and we felt guilty! They will RSVP for who the invite is for and won’t be comparing shit to the last and next weddings they are going to. So, in other words, our wedding invitation will go as followed…..COME THRU ITS LIT!!!!

Hope You Enjoyed

XOXO

Mo